Weft-replenishing loom



W. TOWLER. 'wm HEPLENISHING Loom. APPLICATIGN FILED MAR. 28, !9l 8.

@for

Patente Dec. 28, 11920.

s, SHEETS-SHEET x.

I// ,'22z77z, %z07 W. TOWLER.

WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLlcATloN FILED MAR.2a, 1918.

. Patented me. 2&1920..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. TOWLER.

WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAII. 28. 1918.

.Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. TOWLER.

WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAII.28,

98' meme@ Im 28, ma..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IIJ

W. TOWLER.

WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM.

APPUcATloN FILED MAR. 28, 1918.

Patented Dec. 28

YVILLAM TO'WLER, 0F LWUUENCE, MASSACHUSETTS.

'i/VEET-REPLENISHNG LOM.

Ldd.

' Application filed March 28, 1918.

To @ZZ w hom t may concern.' i

i'e it known that l., 'W Luni ToWLnR, 0i Lof'renee, in the county of hieen and State ofi" lillnseuchueetts, here vin\fented certa-in new und ueeiui improvements in VVeit-Replenish'ing Leonie, ot which the following ie u Speeiiication.

rThis invention reiates toWeit-replenishing leonie4 oit Athe type in 1v'v'hich two Shuttles are used alternately, accor igt() the tundaj inentui principles` illustrated und descrihed iu U. t9. Letters Ritent to Barrell No. igo'ziei. Y

ln such leonie' :is heretofore constructed there here been 'difficulties that have resuited in hifiiure' to thread the Shuttle cor rectiy, ifniiuree` to remore the outiying ende` oit old liliing from the new iiliing, with the consequent carrying of oid illing heck into the shi l to he 'Woven into the cloth with the nonv ii hug, premature restarting oi the Wei/inge; ineehau i, reeterting oi 'the Weavmechanism iireepeotive of failure `or' one kind er another in the operation ot 1nterchenging the ehutties, and' in other pairtieulers that will be understood when the complete description ofthe present invention has heen taken into A(recount.

present invention is embodied in a leoni that his provisions i'or guarding against the i 'tures und inaccuracies hereinhetore noted, together 'with other iinproe ments, ail ot which ure hereinafter de- :scribed und illustrated by the ziceonipunying' drawings. I

lei'erringr to the drawings.

Figure l repreeente en end elevation or the change end o' u leoni constructed 1n necorilzuiec with my pressent invention, the' weaving mechanism being, ifor the moet wirt, oiiitted A for the salie oiisliowing the oie 1ing mechanism more clearly. in l '1 Le clutch-controlling mechanism, hv which the power is connected alternately 'te the wcm'i mechanism and' tothe reulenishing mechanism, is in the `position oceiipied when the loom is weaving'. The luy, however, is in the position that it Should occupy when the shuttles are interchanged.

Fig'. f2 i'iuiii'eseiiie in elevation ot the cani nud lerer that disconnect the power from 'the reple hing mechanism and connect it to the Weaving mechanism.

ig. S3 represente en elevation of L safety de -ice by which the starting rockshait is Specification of Lettere Eatent.

Yotented Dec.. 25, i926.

Serial No. 225,358.

for the reception oit e full holobin and until.`

another ehuL c oi shuttiee is required. This figure includes also the device that clamps the' shuttie on the supportlendthe threadinindiinig devices, the latter being in the positions occupied duringthe Shuttle-changing' operation. rihe direction or View is troni rear to front, though' the observer Were Stending in the `ioreground according to Fig. end *looking diagonally toward the opposite end of the loom.

F' T is :i perspective View, partly in 1 n, or the assemblage included in Fig. fo', the direction orf View being from iront to regu: und troni right to left, assuming that theohserver is standing;` in front of the ioom. r' t5 representen top plan View, partly V on, of the structure included in Figs. (S und "i, Showing the Shure shuttle es having been provided with n 't'ull bohhin,`and the filling end of the active shuttie extending' to the 'hi-luie. i

hifi; 9 presente, somewhat diegramnnttiviiy, the pre shuttie rentingy on its support, rind ite outiyin'g end oi" filling drawn down into the throat s A.owing the relation oit the carrier and iull ehutte during: the operation ot transferring the latter from the bobbin magazine to the shuttle-box.

Fig. through Vthe shuttle-box and through the shuttle-carrier, the latter having completed the transfer of the full shuttle to the shuttleboX, and beingV about to receive the spent shuttle from the elevator.

Fig. 13 represents a top plan view of the shuttle-carrier, and includes broken lines representing the two shuttles, the full shuttle being at the left and the spent shuttle being at the right.

Fig. 14 is a top plan View of the clutch mechanism'by which the motive power is connected to the crankshaft and change shaft alternately.V f

The same reference characters indicate the same parts wherever they occur.

Figs. 1 and 10 illustrate the change end of the lay and the elements that constitute the shuttle-box, and include the lay 15 the shuttle binder 16, screed 17, movable shuttleboX front 18, shuttle ejector 19, and the shuttle receiver or elevator 20. The front 18 is carried by arms 21 that are mounted upon pivot member 22, and is adapted to be raised, as shown by Fig. 12, preparatory to a change of shuttles. An arml 23 that is fastened to arms 21 is connected by rod 24 to lever 25, and the latter is mounted upon a pivot member 26, and is provided with a cam roll 27 that cooperates with a cam 28.. A tension spring 29 normally holds the shuttle-boX front in shuttle-confining position as shown by Fig. 1, cam 28 serving to raise'the shuttle-box front and hold it in its raised position until the filled shuttle has been car ried to `the position shown by Fig. 12. While the shuttle-carrier, hereinafterl de scribed, is in the position shown by Fig. 12 the shuttle-box front is returned to its lower position, the filled shuttle being thereby confined in the shuttlebox prior toV return movement of the shuttle-carrier to the bobi bin magazine.

Cam 28 and other cams hereinafter specilied, are fixed upon shaft 30, the latter being usually termed the changeshaft. Those who are acquainted with looms of this type will understand that the changeshaft re mains stationary during the weaving periods, and that when a change of shuttles is required automatic feeler mechanism (not shown) disconnects the power from the weaving mechanism and connects it to the changeshaft. The changeshaftV then makes one complete revolution, and when it is near the end of its cycle it actuates the aforesaid clutch mechanism in such manner as to disconnect the power from' the change shaft and reconnect it to the weaving mechanism. The change shaft, in the present instance, operates with the results just stated, the cam tor disconnecting the power from the 12 represents a vertical sectionA change shaft and for reconnecting it to the weaving mechanism being indicated at 31 in Fig. 2. Cam 31 actuates a lever 32, the upper arm 33 of which moves from front to rear under the influence of the cam. Arm 33 is arranged to act upon a collar 34 that is aliixed to a connecting rod 35. The forward end of said rod is connected by a pivot member 36 to an arm` 37. rThis arm is loosely mounted upon roclrshaft 38, the latter being usually termed the starting rockshaft. This rockshaft extends across the front of the loom under the breast beam and is connected at the remote end of the loom to the automatic clutch mechanism hereinbefore mentioned. For present purposes it will be sufficient to state that the roclrshaft 38 is turned in a clockwise direction to connect the power to, and in a counterclockwise direction to disconnect the power from, the weaving mechanism.

It has been stated that arm 37 is mounted loosely upon the starting rockshaft. It is held thereon by a collar 39. An arm a() is aflixed to the roclrshaft and is connected to arm 37 by a tension spring 11, the latter being under initial tension which is main` tained by cooperative abutting portions 42 and 4:3 (F ig. 4), formed upon the two arms respectively. When the starting roclrshaft is in position to connect the power to the changeshaft arm 10 occupies the position shown by Fig. 3, and at such times the enter end of said arm is in position to be locked by a locking linger 1-1. This linger is affixed to a roclshaft l5 that is under the control of the spent shuttle for the purpose of preventing restarting of theV weaving mechanism unless and until the spent shuttle has been accurately deposited in the position that it must occupy to receive a full bobbin from the bobbin magazine. Finger lll taires the position shown by F ig.V 3 when the spare shuttle is taken by the shuttle-carrier toward the shuttle-box, and is not retracted from said position until the spent shuttle has been deposited in bobbin-receiving position. in the event that the spent shuttle should be dropped, or should be incorrectly deposited upon the support under the bobbin niagazine, finger di will remain in the position shown by Fig. 3 when the starting cam 31 actuates rod 35 to swing arm 37' from the position represented by broken lines in Fig. 4; to that shown by solidy lines in the same figure. Under the conditions just stated arm 40 will remain locked by linger 114 when arm 37 is moved to the rear, the only apparent result being the elongation of spring ll, the loom remaining at rest so that the attendant may remedy the cause of failure.

The locking device just described serves two desirable purposes. First, it prevents premature connection of the power to the weaving mechanism, and second it prevents lll() a sequence ot' operations that might result in the production ot a thin place in the fabric should the attendant tail to observe the iailure ot the spent shuttle to take the desired or predetermined position tor reloading. lllhenever it is necessary to stop the loom for correcting` a fault or tor making an adjustment the attendant may remove the spare shuttle from its bobbin-receiving` position, such removal enabling` the locking linger at to take its lockingl position, and thereby guarding the attendant against whatever injury might result from starting the weaving` mechanism while the fault is beingl remedied or the adjustment being made. lWhen everything is in readiness for the resumption of weaving the act ot replacthe spent shuttle in its bobbin-receiving position is sui'licient to retract the locking,` linger trom locking` position to the position shown by Fig. Ll.

In Fig. l the active shuttle is indicated at fc, and the spare shuttle is indicated at Vlhen, during` the wett-replenishing cycle the 'trent lShas been raised, the spent shuttle is ejected from the shuttle-box by the more ment of the ejector i9 toward the Yiront ot the loom. The ejector is mounted upon a pivot member 46 that is carried by thelay,

the upper portion ot' the ejector overlying the binder 1G, and being curved so as to be concentric in relation to said pivot member. The ejector extends between the binder and the screed, and its shuttle-engaging portions are bent downwardly in iront oi' the binder as shown by Fig. 10. The ejector is actuated by a cam (not shown) on the changeshatt, through suitable well known connections that include a lever, and a connect'ng rod e7. The upper portion of said rod extends loosely through a stud e8 that is carried by the ejector arm 49, and that is capable orn swivelling relatively to said arm. e. compression spring 50 is coiled about the rod l? and is compressed between stud a8 and a collar 5l, the latter being, fixed to the rod. T he capacity of the spring to be compressed enables the rod 4T tov rise without breaking anything` should the shuttle become caught in the shuttle-box, or should the ejector be otherwise prevented from moving as intended.

Under normal conditions the spent shuttle will be pushed forwardly by the ejector and thereby transferred tothe receiver r elevator 20. The latter is provided with upstanding` tlanges 20* that are arranged to engage the tips ot the shuttle. rlhese langes converge and serve to register the shuttle as to endwise movement so that the shuttle will take the desired position upon the carrier and upon the support that holds it under the bobbin magazine.

When the spent shuttle has been placed upon the receiver 2O the latter is elevated to the position shown by Fig. l2. For this purpose the receiver is mounted upon the upper end ci" a stem 52. The upper portion ot this stem has a bearing in a bracket 53, and the lower portion has a bearing in a bracket ll. Bracket 53 is carried by the lay and bracket is carried by the sword-shaft 55 and oscillates therewith. Cam 56 on the changeshatt acts upon a lever 5'? to raise the receiver 20. @ne end ot said lever is mounted upon pivot member 26, and the other end has suitable sliding connection with a bracket 5S that is aiixed to stem As the lay swings torward and bach: the bracket plays forward and baci; idly upon lever 5T. il. compression spring' 59 is coiled about stem 52 and is compressed between braclrets and 5S. The up and down traverse oit the receiver 20 is controlled by guides 6G on the lay.

Figs. 6, 8 and 9 ailiord the besu showing ot the stationary support by which the spare shuttle supported in bobbin-receiving position. lThis support comprises two separated portions l, 6l., the space between them being slightly longer than the length of the bobbins, to enable the latter to be discharged :trom the bottom of the shuttle according` to the well lrnown practice with all shuttles that are used in conjunction with the well known Northrop bobbin magazine. il bobbin mae'- azine oi' the type just mentioned is repreented somewhat conventionally in Figs. l, l, and 9 and the bobbins therein are indicated at o, Z22, o", etc. llfithout describin,` the magazine completely it will be sutticient to state that the ends ot the bobbins are supported by suitable elements that are caused to rotate step by step to more the bobbins successirely into registration with the spare shuttle so that they may be transferred by the usual well lmown hammer 62. l provide the magazine with two separated thr addislrs 63 and 64.-. The edge et dislr 63 is notched as shown by Fig. el, each notch being adjacent the tip end oi'I a bobbin to hold the outlyingl weit end in the desired position as the rotatable elements of the magazine ad- `rance. The edge ot disk 5l is also notched.. the notches 65 thereoiE being preferably deep enough to guard agair st accidental dislodgment et the wett ends.' lis the tull bobbins are placed in the magazine their wett end` are stretched across the disks (Se, and are wound around and secured to the usual wett end holder 6G. 'lhe disks and holder rotate with the movable ljmbbin-holdinig' elements, thus maiutainii g the portions ot thread that bridge ocr the space between the two disks in substantially parallel relation to the axis ot the magazine. rlhe magazine is rotated by the usual well lmown ratchet and pawl mechanism (not shown), and as each succeeding bobbin reaches the position occupied by bobbin Zi the rotative movement is arrested by the large end ot' the lill) bobbin, which strikes the registering stop 67, Fig. 6. As each bobbin approaches the position last specified its weft end a is deflected downwardly by two stationary thread guides 68, 69 (see Figs. 4 and 9) the control of the weft end being thereby initiated pre paratory to the threading of the shuttle.

Referring to Fig. 9 the bobbin indicated conventionally at ZJ is supported by the magazine and is in registration with the hammer 62 and shuttle w. When the hammer is actuated it deprcsses the bobbin into the shuttle, the bobbin then occupying the position of that indicated at Zi. The shuttle is provided with spring-jaws 7 0 which hold the bobbin by its large end. llVhen the bobbin is transferred to the shuttle the weft end takes the position represented by broken line a2, the outer portion of the thread remaining in a notch. of disk 64. At this time the weft end is held in such position that it is nearly in vertical registration with the throat a2 of the shuttle, such registration being assisted by a movable thread guide 71 which moves downwardly as hereinafter explained, upon the spent shuttle and takes a position in registration with the throat :102. The movement of guide 71 to contiguous relation with the shuttle occurs prior to the transfer of the bobbin from the maga- Zine to the shuttle. so that the weft end, in moving from position a' to position a2, is guided to the throat m2 incidentally to the transferring of the bobbin. When the thread occupies the position a? it lies across the ath of movement of movable threadhook 72, said hooi: being hereinafter termed the threading device. While the shuttle remains on support 61 the threading device is moved downwardly from the position shown in Figs. 4 and 7 to that shown in Figs 6 and 9,A the thread being thereby drawn downwardly to the bottom of throat x2, as clearly shown in Fig. 9 and indicated at a3. This threading operation occurs during the cycle of the changeshaft, and before the shuttle has been removed from its bobbin-receiving position.

The movement of the thread guide 71 to operative position as shown by Figs. 1, 4 and 8 is caused by the spent shuttle as 'the latter is being deposited in bobbin-receiving position. For this purpose rockshaft 45, which carries the looking finger 44, is provided with a shuttle-engaging finger 73. The latter normally projects into the space that is to be occupied by the spare shuttle, shown by Fig. 6, and when the shuttle is deposited upon support 61 it engages and depresses finger 73 to the position shown by Figs. 4 and 7. Thread guide 71, which is carried by roclrshaft 45, is thereby moved downwardly from the position shown by Fig. 6 to the operative position hereinbefore specified. This movement of finger 73 by The structure of the shuttle-ca`rrier is.

shown best by Figs. 11, 12 and 13. The

carrier comprises an oscillatory arm 74 at.

the upper end of which is a head 7 5. This head is provided with a platform for the spent shuttle, and a separate platform for the filled shuttle. The first said platform comprises shuttle-supporting surfaces 76, 76 and the other comprises shuttle-supporting fingers 77, 77. The head is provided with fixed abutments 787 78 arranged to engage the front side of the spent shuttle. A movable shuttle-retaining device 79 is carried by the head and is mounted upon a pivot pin SO. This device has shuttle-engaging portions 81, 81 arranged to engage the rear side of the spent shuttle. When the carrier is against the lay as shown by Fig. 12 the spent shuttle a: is deposited between the elements 78 and 81 by the receiver 20 as the latter descends, the downward path of the shuttle being indicated in Fig. 12 by broken lines. The portions 81 are normally held in the position shown by a torsion spring 82, a portion of the device 79 being adapted to abut against a portion of the head to prevent the retaining device 'from being lifted too far by the spring. When the spare shuttle reaches the bobbinreceiving position it is arrested by the upright wall of support 61, but the shuttlecarrier continues to move to the front, the shuttle-engaging portions S1 being displaced downwardly against the stress of spring 82 by the lower edge of the shuttle. At this time the shuttle is prevented from rising by the thread guide 71, and also by a boss 83 that is formed upon the stationary shuttle support in position to overhang and engage the forward upper edge of the shuttle. The shuttle-carrier is arrested when it reaches the position shown by Figs. l and 4, the device 79 having been returned to its initial position by spring 82.

The portions 81 serve subsequently to push the spare shuttle from the support 61 as the carrier moves to the rear during the next shuttle-changing cycle. The fingers 77 project to the rear in the position to sustain the spare shuttle as the latter is pushed from support 61. It will be observed that the shuttle-supporting surfaces of fingers 77 have a substantial inclination toward "the rear ot the loom, this inclinationbeing due to the angular motion ot the carrier about its pivot member Se (Fig. l). 'ln order to prevent the spare shuttle from slipping `from fingers 77 the carrier is provided with looking Yfingers 811, 85, the tips 85X ot which are hook-shaped and are'arinnged toextend upwardly into the bobbin cavity `as `shown by Fig. 11. rThe trontwall of the shuttle drops between the tips 85X ot fingers 85 and the confronting faces ot portions S1 as the shuttle is being pushed from the stationary support by the portions 81,\the arc traversed by the tips of fingers 85 being slightly below the bottom of the shuttle up tothe time when the portions 81 beginy to push the shuttle as stated. Fingers S5 are formed'upon or fastened to a tubular structure S6, and the latter is mounted upon and `adzqtedto'turn upon a pin 87 that is affixed to the head 75. A. torsion spring 88 is arranged'to hold the fingers normally in the position shown by Fig. 11, said fingers being capable of being depressed to release the shuttle. AApin 89, which serves as a lever forretracting'tingers S5, is atlixed to one ot saidfingers andieX- tends downwardly in position to engagethe shuttle-receiver A29. As lthe carrier approaches thc lay with f the filled shuttle lthe supporting` fingers 77 overlap the lay 1as shown by Fig. 12,'and the lever pin89, striking the receiver 20, is larrested with the result that the locking iinsers are depressed to release the shuttle. The upper portion of the lay is provided with cavities 90, 90 to receive the iingers 85 and topermit the latter to be depressed belowthe bottom ot the shuttle. The traverse oit' the carrier toward `the rear is arrested by theV receiver20, the lower portion of the latter being arranged to be engaged by the head ot the carrier. rllhe momentum oi the iilled shuttle is/sufticient to carry the latter es taras the shuttle fbinder 16 will permit, the iront wall of the Ashuttle thereby advancine relatively'to the 'tips of lingers 65, so that there will'not beany possibilitv ot catching the lingers on the shuttle when the carrier moves tothe iront.

vlWhile the carrier remains in the 'position shown by Fig. 12 receiver 20 descends -t'o de- 'threading device 4when `the latter rises.

shuttle-carrier is moved to the rear bya tension spring 91, and is moved to the front by cam 92 on the Changeshat. A roll 93 carried by arm'74 cooperates with cam 92.

During `'the latter part of the forward traverse ot the lshuttle-carrier, and `after the spent shuttle has been deposited in bobbin-receiving position, a cam plate 94C, at'- fiXed to the head ot the carrier, engages and depresses a roll 95 that is mounted upon a lever 96. rThis lever has a Afnlcrum pin 97 afi-ined lthereto and mounted in a bearing 9S in a portion ot' the shuttlesupport 61. The lever is normally held in the position shown by Fig. 6 by a torsion spring 99. One end ot said spring is 4anchored in the bearing structure 98 as shown by Fig. 8, and the other end is inserted into a hole in a collar 100. This ycollar is arranged upon the pin 97 and is'fastened theretov by a set screw 101, the collar being set 4at a position that will maintain suiiicient stress in the spring at all times.

` One ot the functions of lever l96 is to actuate threading device 72, and for this purpose varmis affixed to the rocksha-tt portion 10aL of the threading device 72. Spring 99 is vthus utilized fto inovethe threadingdevice downwardly from Athe position yshown by Figs. 4 and 7, tothat shown by Figs. 6 and 9, the threading movement occurring` during the iirst stage of the shuttlecarriers traverse toward thellay but/beforefthe carrier has taken up the Aiilled shuttle `-from the support 61. The vthreading device 72 `remains in its lower `position throughout the remainder of the shuttle-changing operation, and is'not Araised until the cam plate 94 depresses roll 95 as the shuttle-carrier nent re turns to its forward position. The threading ydevice is provided with a thread-guard 105, which is in the term ot a spur and which is arranged `to prevent the outlying wett end. between the ithread-disks 63, 64, of the `bobbin lat 'from overlying the 1t sometimes hapnensthat the lweit ends become slackenedsothat they sag between the `disks 63. 64. and when a-stretch of thread is so slaflred as tosa'g a slight agitation of vthe `air about it is suiiicient to sway it. Un-

der such conditions the guard 105, when in 'the position 'shown by'Fig. Y6 prevents slackened wett ends from swinging so far to the front "of the loom as to overliethethreading device. lt is thus :assured that the wett fend ot each bobbin, as'the latter is carried into registration with the hammer 62, will vbein position to be drawn downwardly by the threading device.

An important eature'in connection with vthe"threading of the 'shuttle is that the iront wall of .the support lis lout. away at yits outer end to enable the thread a3 to be drawn down to the bottom of throat 002. The end face of the front wall of the shuttle support is indicated at 106, and although it is nearly in line with the throat of the shuttle it is far enough in front of said line to offer no obstruction to 'the thread as the threading device descends. rihc threa-d guide 71 is disposed between disk 63 and stationary guide 66 (F ig. 8) and stands in 'the path of the weft ends that are stretched across the disks 63, 64. The thread guide 71 arrests the weft end a as the bobbin attached thereto moves into registration with the hammer 62. Thus the guide 71 assumes control of the weft end a before the bobbin D is transferred to the shuttle, and moves downwardly, while engaging said weft end, into the throat of the spare shuttle as soon as the latter is deposited in bobbin-receiving position. The outer portion of thread a .is carried forward by disk 64 a considerable distance beyond the longitudinal center line of the shuttle immediately following` the transfer of the bobbin to the shuttle. r1`he rotative movement of the magazine occurs during the upward movement of the hammer. The outlying weft end of the transferred bobbin is thus carried by disk 6&1 to position a2 (Fig. S) where it is substantially in vertical registration with the throat of the shuttle, the thread remaining under the control of the guide 71, and having been depressed, throughout a portion of its length, (see a2, Fig. 9) into the throat of the shuttle by the bobbin. The subsequent threading motion of the threading device 'T2 occurs before the guide 71 is withdrawn from the. throat of the shuttle, guide 71 therefore maintaining control of the thread continuously from a point of time prior to the transfer of the bobbin until the thread is depressed below it by the threading device 72.

The spare shuttle is clamped against the front wall of support 61 by a finger 107 that is affixed to lever 96, said finger being shown in clamping position by Figs. 1, f1, 7 and 8. When the shuttle-carrier starts to the rear to pick up the filled shuttle it releases lever 96 before picking up the shuttle, thus enabling spring 99 to swing the finger 10T below the path traversed by the shuttle. Finger 107 is shown in its lower position by Fig. 6.

Lever 96 is provided with a horn 106 that extends toward the shuttle-box. The function of this horn is to prevent the thread at, which extends from the disk 641 to the active shuttle, from becoming entangled with thread a2 and the other threads that are held by the thread disks. When the first pick of the filled shuttle occurs the thread at is carried over the outer end of the spare shuttle, as shown by Fig. 6, but the upright portion 109 of lever 96 serves as a guard for the thread to prevent the latter from being drawn across the shuttle so far as to interfere with the new thread a2. See also Fig. 7. it this time horn 106 overlies the thread a4 and prevents the latter from being drawn over the top of the guard portion 109. 1n due course the thread a* is parted close to the selvage of the fabric by the usual temple thread cutter (not shown), and drops out of the way although it may remain attached to the weft end holder 66.

Fig. 1 includes mechanism for actuating the hammer 62 during the first forward beat of the lay following a change of shuttles. in arm 110, which is suitably connected to the hammer, extends downwardly, and at its lower end a dagger 111 is connected thereto by a pivot pin 112. This dagger extends toward the rear and its rear end is pointed to conform to a fis-hetail member 113 that is carried by but disposed under the lay. lVhen the dagger is in the position shown by Fig. 1 its rear end is below the path tra-versed by the member 113, the latter, under such conditions,.being free to play forward and back over the dagger without engaging the latter. The rear portion of the dagger rests upon the upper end of a rod 11d, said rod extending through a guide 115, and having telescoping connection with a link 116-. The lower end of Ythis link is connected to the forward end of a lever 117 by a pivot pin 118. The rear end of the latter is mounted upon fulcrum pin 26, and a boss 119 forme-d upon the lower edge of the lever bears upon a cam 120 that is carried by the changeshait. i compression spring 121 is coiled about roti 11e'. and is compressed between a portion of link 116 and a collar 122 on the rod, the spring affording a yielding connection between the link and the rod. TWhen, during the cycle of the changeshaft, lever 117- is raised by the cam 120, the dagger is raised into the path of member 113. A pin or boss 123 carried by the dagger engages a weighted latch 1211 in such manner that when the dagger is raised enough to carry the boss above the upper end of the latch the latter tilts in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 125 until its tilting motion is arrested by a stop 126. The upper end of the latch is thus arrested under 'the boss 125.y a nd when the rod 114; descends the dagger is retained in its upper position by the latch. Then, during the next beat of the lay, member 113 moves the dagger forward and imparts bobbin-transferring movement to hammer 62 and incidentally thereto boss 123 is carried forward beyond latch 1211 so that the dagger may'drop to its initial position when released by member 113.

Fig. 1 also includes the crankshaft 12T and one of the connecting links 128 by which the crankshaft is connected with the lay to reciprocate the latter. rlfhe lay and its operating connections just described 4areasufficient representation of the weaving' mechanism for the present purposes, and it may be understood that themotive power for operating the loom is connected alternately to the crankshaft and to the changeshaftinaccordance with the usual practice in the well known Staiford loom.

Fig. 14 shows suitable clutch-operating mechanism arranged to disconnect `the motive power from the change shaft 30 and connect it to the crankshaft 127 when the change shaft has completed acycle. A continuosly driven sleeve 129 carries a disk 130 that serves as the drivingimember of the clutch for the change shaft. V'llhe driven member 131 of the clutch carries a dog132 on a pivot 133. @ne end of this dog is arranged to form driving connection between 130 and 131, `and the other end is arranged to engage a knock-off member 134. The latter becomes effective as the change shaft is about to complete its cycle, and continues to hold the dog clear of 130 throughout the weaving period. The usual feeler-mechanism controls the movement of 134 that releases the dog to connect the change shaft to its driver. n

When the rockshaft 38 is turned by the change shaft it reconnects the motive power to the crankshaft 127 by operating the following` mechanism. A starting` handle 135, aiiixed to rockshaft 38, is connected by link 136 to one end of lever 137. The other end of the latter is connected by link 138 to shipper lever 139. The fulcrum pins of said levers are at 140 and 141 respectively, liever 139 is arranged to move a continuously rotating clutch member 142 into driving contact with a driven clutch member 143. Members 142 and 143 are mounted on the crankshaft 127 and are loose and tight respectively.

I claim-- 1. A loom comprising a support for holding a spare shuttle, a controller for connecting the motive power to the weaving mechanism, means arranged to lock said controller against moving,r to connect the motive power as aforesaid, said means including a meinber that is movable to release said controller, said member being arranged to move automatically from a position of release to locking position, and movable means arranged to restrain said member in said position of release, said restrainingmeans being` arranged to be held in restraining position by a shuttle on said support.

2. A weft-replenishing loom comprising a support Vfor a spare shuttle, weaving mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, said shuttle- 'hanp'ing mechanism beine' arranged to interchange a shuttle on said support and shuttle in the changesluittle-bozt of the lay,

a controller for shippingthe motive power from said shuttle-changing mechanism to the wearing mechanism, meansarranged to be. operated by said shuttle-chai'igingi` mechanism to move said cont-roller to ship the .motive power .as aforesaid, and. means arranged to lock said controller automatically against moving' as aforesaid when no shuttle is on said support, said locking means being .arranged to be rendered non-locking by a shuttle as the latter is placed on said support by said shuttle-changing mechanism.

3. A weft-replenishing loom comprising a support for a spare shuttle, weaving mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, said shuttlechanging mechanism being arranged to interchange a shuttle on said support and a shuttle in the change` shuttle-box of the lay, a starting3 rockshaft for connecting` the motive power to said weavingmechanism, means arranged to be operated by said shuttle-changing mechanism to move said ,rockshaft to connect the motive power as aforesaid, and means for locking' said rockt shaft against moving as aforesaid, said loch:- ing-means being arranged to be held in nonlockingposition by a shuttle on said support and being adapted to more automatically to locking position when the spare shuttle is removed from said support.

4. A weft-replenishing loom comprising` a support for a spare shuttle, a change-shaft, a starting rockshaft for shipping the motive power from said change-shaft to the weaving* mechanism, means operative by said change-shaft to turn said rocksha'lt to ship the motive power as aforesaid, means arranged to lock said rockshaft automatically against turningas aforesaid, said locking means beingarranged to be held in nonlocking position by a shuttle on said support, and means arranged to transfer a shuttle from said support to the change shuttleboX of the lay.

5. weft-replenishing' loom comprising a change-shaft and weaving mechanism arranged to operate alternately, a support for a spare shuttle, shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to be operated by said chanac-shaft to interchange a shuttle on said support and a spent shuttle in the change shuttleboX of the lay, a controller for shipping the motive power from said change-shaft to the weaving mechanism, means arranged to be operated by said change-shaft to move said controller', means arranged to lock said controller against moving to ship the motive power as aforesaid, said locking means in- A:ludinp` a member arranged to be depressed oy a shuttle on said support and thereby retracted from lockingy position, and means arranged to overhang and engage the shuttle, as thelattercis being placed on said support by said shuttle-changing mechanism,

to insure the depressing action of the shuttle on said member as aforesaid.

6. A Weft-replenisliing loom comprising a Change shuttle-box, a support ior a spare shuttle, means arranged to put a full bobbin into the shuttle on said support, means arranged to interchange the shuttle on said support and a spent shuttle in said shuttleboX, and movable means arranged to be moved by the spent shuttle, as the latter is being deposited on said support by said shuttle-changing mechanism, to guide the weft-end to the throat of the spent shuttle, said guiding means including a threadguiding member arranged to be moved to contiguous relation With the shuttle by the action of the latter.

7. A Wet-replenishing loom comprising means arranged to put a full bobbin into a spent shuttle, means arranged to transfer a spent shuttle from the lay to bobbin-receiving position relatively to the lirst said means, a thread-guide arranged to move to and from a shuttle in said position, and means arranged to be engaged and moved by a shuttle, as the latter moves to said position, to move said thread-guide to contiguous relation With the shuttle.

8. A Wett-re Dlenishin loom com arisin a shuttle-support, meehanisn arranged to transfer a spent shuttle from the change shuttle-box to said shuttle-support and back to said shuttle-box, means arranged to hold a full bobbin over the shuttle on said snpport, means arranged to hold the wett-end fer of such bobbin, means arranged to trans' such bobbin into the shuttle on said port, and means arranged to depress said Wett-end, externally ot the shuttle, below the level ot the bobbin in the shuttle while the latter is on said support, to place the wett-end in the throat of the shuttle.

9. A Wet-replenishing loom comprising a shuttle-support, shuttle-transferring mechanism including a shuttle-carrier arranged to carry a spent shuttle from the change shuttle-box to said support and baclr to said shuttle-box, means arranged to hold a lull bobbin over the shuttle on said support, means arranged to hold the weft-end of said bobbin, means arranged to be moved by the spent shuttle, as the latter is deposited on said support, to guide said Weit-end, said guiding means including a thread-engaging member arranged to be moved to contiguous relation with the top of the shuttle by the action of the latter, means arranged to transfer the full bobbin from said holding means into the shuttle on said suppe and means controlled by said shuttle-carrier to depress said Wett-end, externally ot the shuttle, beloiv the level oil the bobbin in latter, While said shuttle is on said support, to place the Wett end in the throat or the shuttle.

10. The combination With a loom having a change shuttle-box, of a shuttle having an open throat, a shuttle-support, mechanism arranged to transfer the shuttle Jfrom said shuttle-box to said shuttle-support and back to said shuttle-box, means arranged to put a full bobbin into the shuttle on said support, means arranged to hold the weft-end of such bobbin, and means arranged to move said .Wett-end to the bottom of said throat throughout the length of the latter while the shuttle is on said support.

l1. rlhe combination with a loom having a cha-nge shuttle-box, of tivo shuttles each having an open throat, a shuttle-support, means arranged to interchange said shuttles on said support and in said shuttle-box respectively, a bobbin-magazine, means arranged to transfer a tull bobbin -trom said magazine into the shuttle on'said support, means arranged to hold the Weit-ends ot the bobbins in said magazine, means arranged to engage the throat portion ot the shuttle on said support to guide the Wett-end into the throat, and threading means arranged to engage the weft-end between the shuttle and said end-holding means, said threading means being arranged to move the Wett-end to the bottom of the throat of the shuttle.

l2. The combination with a loom having a change shuttle-box, a shuttle-support, and mechanism arranged to interchange a spent shuttle and a spare shuttle in said shuttlebon and on said shuttle-support respectively, i A mns arranged to put full bobbins into rattles alternately as the latter are on support, a holder for holding the Wettoit ...e full bobbins, shuttle-engaging Vle arra Aged to guide the Wett thread to the top ot the shuttle as a full bobbin is put into the latter, and a shuttle-threading means arranged to depress the outlying Wett thread, tangentially to the shuttle, belovv the level of the bobbin in the shuttle While the latter is on said support.

13. he combination with a loom havinga change shuttle-box, a shuttle-support, and mechanism arranged to interchange a spent shuttle and a spare shuttle in said shuttleboX and on said support respectively, ra magazine tor lull bobbins, means arranged to transfer full bobbin from said magazine to a shuttle on said support, and means arranged to depress the outlying thread `ot' said bobbin, externally of and tangentially to the shuttle, below the level of the bobbin While the shuttle is on said support, to lay the tnread on the bottom of the throat of the shuttle.

la. A Wett-replenishing loom comprising Weaving mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, a support :tor a spare shuttle, said shuttlecl erging mechanism including a shuttlecarrier arranged to transfer a spare shuttle from said support to the change shuttle-box, and movable meansv carried by said carrier and arranged to hold the spare shuttle on the carrier, said holding means having a part arranged to engage a part carried by said shuttle-box in consequence ot moving toward the latter, to move said holding means relatively to the carrier to release the shuttle thereon.

l5. A weft-replenishing loom comprising weaving mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, a support Jfor a spare shuttle, said shuttlechanging mechanism including a shuttlecarrier arranged to transfer a spare shuttle from said support to the change shuttle-box, a locking device movably mounted on said carrier and having a shuttle-engaging portion arranged to project upwardly from the plane of the shuttle-supporting surface of the carrier to hold the shuttle against displacement, said device having a part below said plane `for retracting said shuttle-engaging portion to release the shuttle, and a member carried by said shuttle-box and arranged to be engaged by said part as the carrier moves toward said shuttle-box, to cause shuttle-releasing movementl of said device as aforesaid.

16. A weft-replenishing loom comprising weaving' mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, a support for a spare shuttle, said shuttlechanging mechanism including a shuttlecarrier arranged to transfer a spai'e shuttle from said support to the change shuttle-box, a device pivotally mounted on said carrier and arranged to engage the spare shuttle thereon to hold the shuttle against displacement, a spring arranged to hold said device in locking position, said device having a part which, when arrested as the carrier is moving toward said shuttle-box, is arranged to retract said device from shuttle-holding position, and a member carried by said shuttleboX and arranged to arrest said part to retract said device as aforesaid.

17. A weft-replenishing loom comprising by a shuttle resting on said support.

a support Jfor a spare shuttle, weaving mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, said shuttlechanging mechanism including means arranged to eject the spent shuttle from the change shuttle-box and a lifter arranged to raise and lower the ejected shuttle, said shuttle-changing mechanism including a shuttle-carrier arranged to carry the spare shuttle from said support to said shuttleboX and to carry the ejected shuttle from said lifter to said support, and means carried by said carrier to hold the spare shuttle against displacement thereon, said lifter and said holding means being arranged to coact with each other to retract the latter from shuttle-holding position.

18. A weft-replenishing loom comprising a support for a spare shuttle, weaving mechanismpand shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, said shuttlechanging mechanism being arranged to interchange a spent shuttle and a spare shuttlc in the change shuttle-bor; and on said support respectively, a bobbin-magazine arraiiged in front ot said shuttle-box, said support being arranged under said magazine, a holder arranged to hold the wettends ot the bobbins, means arranged to transfer a bobbin trom said magazine to the shuttle on said support, a thread-guard movable to and from a position between said shuttle-box and the shuttle on said support to hold the weft-thread connecting the active shuttle and said holder away from the new weft thread of the spare shuttle, and means arranged to move said thread-guard from said position. during the shuttle-changing period to clear the path of the shuttles.

19. A loom comprising a support for a spare shuttle, weaving mechanism and shuttie-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, said shuttle-changing mechanism being arranged to interchange a spare shuttle on said support and a spent shuttle in the change shuttle box of the weaving mechanism, a shipper for applying the motive power to said weaving mechanism., and means controlled by said shuttles alternately to loclr said shipper when both shuttles are off' said support and to unlock the shipper when one of the shuttles is on said support.

20. A loom comprising a support for a spare shuttle, weaving mechanism and shuttlc-changing mechanism arranged t0 operate alternately, said shuttle-changing mechanism including means arranged to transier a spare shuttle from said support to the change shuttle box of the weaving mechanism, a shipper for applying the motive power to said weaving mechanism, and

means arranged to lock said shipper auto-l matically when the spare shuttle is removed rom said support, said means being arranged to be moved to unlocking position 2l. A loom comprising means arranged to put a full bobbin into a square shuttle, weaving mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arranged to operate alternately, said shuttle-changing mechanism being arranged to interchange the spare shuttle and spent shuttle in the change shuttle-box of the weaving mechanism, a shipper for connecting the motive power to drive the weaving mechanism, and means arranged to lock said shipper automatically when no shuttle is in bobbin-receiving position relatively to the first said means, said locking means being movable by a shuttle to unlock the shipper as the shuttle arrives at said position.

22. A Weft-replenishing loom comprising 4Weaving mechanism, disconnectible poWerdriven means for operating the Weaving mechanism, automatic mechanism arranged to put a full bobbin into a spare shuttle, automatic mechanism arranged to interchange the spent shuttle and the filled spare shuttle, and means arranged to lock said power-driven means in disconnected position, said locking means being arranged to be controlled by the spare shuttle so as to permit the'poWer-driven means to be recon* nected only when the spare shuttle is in a predetermined bobbin-receiving position relatively to the shuttle-loading mechanism 23. A loom comprising Weaving mechanism and shuttle-changing mechanism arto put a full loobbin into' the spare shuttle,

means arranged normally to connect said power driven means to the Weaving mechanism after each interchange of shuttles, and means arranged normally to prevent operation of said connecting means but to be dislaced by a shuttle in a predetermined bobihn-receiving position so as to permit said connecting means to function.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WILLIAM TOWLER., 

